NBA REPORT.

Stoudamire Not Every Team's Answer

January 25, 1998|By Sam Smith. Sam Smith covers the National Basketball Association for the Tribune.

The larger question teams are asking in the wake of rumors about an aborted Toronto trade of Damon Stoudamire to Houston is whether to risk an $80 million to $100 million contract on a player who scores a lot of points for a losing team.

"Damon would be a good addition for them (Houston)," former Rocket Sam Cassell said. "But it isn't all going to be peaches and cream. He's like me. He needs the ball to be effective. Isolations will be limited. I don't think it (would be) as smooth as they think it's going to be. If they were looking for a point guard, I was the answer."

But Cassell, now with New Jersey, shoots too much, so he was traded--twice. It's hard enough keeping Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and Charles Barkley happy, and the three have clashed this season over offensive responsibility.

The Rockets, however, were determined to add Stoudamire for a huge package of Matt Maloney, Kevin Willis, Emanual Davis, Matt Bullard and Mario Elie. But Toronto, its front-office staff inexperienced with Isiah Thomas gone, pulled back, apparently realizing the trading deadline is still a month away.

The Knicks have expressed interest, but won't part with Allan Houston (for now). The Lakers were said to have offered Nick Van Exel and Elden Campbell, but Lakers General Manager Jerry West was so peeved that Van Exel's name came out he angrily called Toronto management to complain.

The Magic was said to have offered players and the Warriors' draft pick it holds. The Pacers inquired, but never turned the Dale Davis-and-Jalen Rose rumor into an offer. The Grizzlies supposedly offered Antonio Daniels and Otis Thorpe, whom they're trying to deal. Portland continues to offer Kenny Anderson, and the Nets talked about sending Cassell to Toronto.

The bigger issue, one the league will have to figure out quickly, is the pattern of players being trained in small markets and then moving elsewhere after two or three years.

On hold: Charlotte also has been looking to deal, although Vlade Divac's surgery has altered its plans. Divac reportedly has put his Charlotte, N.C., home up for sale and sent his family back to Los Angeles. The Hornets also were said to be in on the Stoudamire talks, dangling David Wesley, who shoots too much for the likes of Glen Rice and Anthony Mason. What they might think of Stoudamire is another matter.

There also have been talks with Boston about Travis Knight and the Nuggets about Dean Garrett. Available: Divac and/or fellow free agent Matt Geiger, who has been talking about a $7 million to $10 million contract.

Yes, the (NBA) world is coming to an end.

He's back: Hard to imagine how the league has gone along without him (the media too), but Latrell Sprewell is back, sort of. His appeal of his league suspension and termination by the Warriors begins Tuesday before an arbitrator in Portland, Ore.

Sprewell was in New York last week brushing up for a triallike format that is expected to last most of this week in Portland and next week in New York. The arbitrator then has up to a month to make a decision, which means no ruling is likely until late February. The arbitrator's decision is binding under the collective-bargaining agreement. And those close to him seem hopeful that Sprewell, who is suspended until December, will be reinstated by July 1 so he can sign with another team.

About two dozen witnesses are expected to be called, including players and coaches. The players association will put the chokee, P.J. Carlesimo, on trial, in effect, by suggesting he provoked Sprewell. Just last week, Warriors forward Donyell Marshall was said to have been ready to go after Carlesimo, and there are reports of a growing rift between Carlesimo and Joe Smith, who is again saying he won't re-sign with the Warriors.

Magic moments: What a surprise. Vernon Maxwell missed a Magic shootaround last week and was fined. Good way to audition for another 10-day contract. . . . A larger problem in Orlando may be a developing turf war between General Manager John Gabriel and coach Chuck Daly. Donald Royal told new teammates in Charlotte that Daly had Maxwell signed against Gabriel's wishes.

And an even larger problem in Orlando is the behind-the-scenes concern over injured Anfernee Hardaway. He continues to rehabilitate from knee surgery in Houston, and Daly and team President Bob Vander Wiede believe he should be in Orlando. But for how long? Word around the league has the Magic seeking offers for Hardaway, who will look for a new $100 million-plus contract after next season.

Onetime buddy Shaquille O'Neal said: "Put it this way: He bought a lot of land down there and he hasn't started building yet. So do I think he's gone? Ask the Orlando media why. They're dogging him and he doesn't like that."